The most important spring in a mechanical device (especially a clock or watch); as it uncoils it drives the mechanism.
Roget 153:
cause,
origin,
source,
principle,
element;
occasioner†,
prime mover,
primum mobile [Lat.];
vera causa [Lat.];
author
etc.
(producer)
164;
mainspring;
agent;
leaven;
groundwork,
foundation
etc.
(support)
215.
spring,
fountain,
well,
font;
fountainhead,
spring head,
wellhead;
fons et origo [Lat.],
genesis;
descent
etc.
(paternity)
166;
remote cause;
influence.
pivot,
hinge,
turning point,
lever,
crux,
fulcrum;
key;
proximate cause,
causa causans [Lat.];
straw that breaks the camel's back.
ground;
reason,
reason why;
why and wherefore,
rationale,
occasion,
derivation;
final cause
etc.
(intention)
620;
les dessous des cartes [Fr.];
undercurrents.
rudiment.
egg,
germ,
embryo,
bud,
root,
radix radical,
etymon,
nucleus,
seed,
stem,
stock,
stirps,
trunk,
tap-root,
gemmule†,
radicle,
semen,
sperm.
nest,
cradle,
nursery,
womb,
nidus,
birthplace,
hotbed.
causality,
causation;
origination;
production
etc.
161.
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Roget 615:
motive,
springs of action,
wellsprings of action.
reason,
ground,
call,
principle;
by end,
by purpose;
mainspring,
primum mobile [Lat.],
keystone;
the why and the wherefore;
pro and con,
reason why;
secret motive,
arriere pensee [Fr.];
intention
etc.
620.
inducement,
consideration;
attraction;
loadstone;
magnet,
magnetism,
magnetic force;
allectation†,
allective†;
temptation,
enticement,
agacerie†,
allurement,
witchery;
bewitchment,
bewitchery;
charm;
spell
etc.
993;
fascination,
blandishment,
cajolery;
seduction,
seducement;
honeyed words,
voice of the tempter,
song of the Sirens forbidden fruit,
golden apple.
persuasibility†,
persuasibleness†;
attractability†;
impressibility,
susceptibility;
softness;
persuasiveness,
attractiveness;
tantalization†.
influence,
prompting,
dictate,
instance;
impulse,
impulsion;
incitement,
incitation;
press,
instigation;
provocation
etc.
(excitation of feeling)
824;
inspiration;
persuasion,
suasion;
encouragement,
advocacy;
exhortation;
advice
etc.
695;
solicitation
etc.
(request)
765;
lobbyism;
pull [Slang].
incentive,
stimulus,
spur,
fillip,
whip,
goad,
ankus†,
rowel,
provocative,
whet,
dram.
bribe,
lure;
decoy,
decoy duck;
bait,
trail of a red herring;
bribery and corruption;
sop,
sop for Cerberus.
prompter,
tempter;
seducer,
seductor†;
instigator,
firebrand,
incendiary;
Siren,
Circe;
agent provocateur;
lobbyist.
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Roget 633:
machinery,
mechanism,
engineering.
instrument,
organ,
tool,
implement,
utensil,
machine,
engine,
lathe,
gin,
mill;
air engine,
caloric engine,
heat engine.
gear;
tackle,
tackling,
rig,
rigging,
apparatus,
appliances;
plant,
materiel;
harness,
trappings,
fittings,
accouterments;
barde†;
equipment,
equipmentage†;
appointments,
furniture,
upholstery;
chattels;
paraphernalia
etc.
(belongings)
780.
mechanical powers;
lever,
leverage;
mechanical advantage;
crow,
crowbar;
handspike†,
gavelock†,
jemmy†,
jimmy,
arm,
limb,
wing;
oar,
paddle;
pulley;
wheel and axle;
wheelwork,
clockwork;
wheels within wheels;
pinion,
crank,
winch;
cam;
pedal;
capstan
etc.
(lift)
307;
wheel
etc.
(rotation)
312;
inclined plane;
wedge;
screw;
spring,
mainspring;
can hook,
glut,
heald†,
heddle†,
jenny,
parbuckle†,
sprag†,
water wheel.
handle,
hilt,
haft,
shaft,
heft,
shank,
blade,
trigger,
tiller,
helm,
treadle,
key;
turnscrew,
screwdriver;
knocker.
hammer
etc.
(impulse)
276;
edge tool
etc.
(cut)
253;
borer
etc.
262;
vice,
teeth,
etc.
(hold)
781;
nail,
rope
etc.
(join)
45;
peg
etc.
(hang)
214;
support
etc.
215;
spoon
etc.
(vehicle)
272;
arms
etc.
727;
oar
etc.
(navigation)
267;
cardiograph,
recapper†,
snowplow,
tenpenny†,
votograph†.
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Dutch: drijfveer, slagpen, slagpin, slagveer